by Father Alonzo Cox
Every first Sunday of Lent, we are introduced to a character everyone knows. No matter their religion or cultural background, everyone knows this figure and his subsequent works. That person is the devil, also known as Satan. There’s so much that can be said about the devil. He’s cunning, mischievous, divisive, and seductive. He’s been given many titles, such as the prince of darkness and father of lies, just to name a few. The devil shows himself in so many different ways, particularly in moments when we are in despair or hopelessness. He promises things to us that will bring us comfort and sustenance in the moment, but will hinder our relationship with God. He claims to care for us and wants to look out for our needs, when ultimately, the spirit of evil supports evil itself. It is with this most famous figure, called Satan, that we begin our Lenten season.
Jesus is tempted by the devil as he wanders the desert on three different occasions. We see the Lord come face to face with the devil, who claims only to want to fulfill the needs and desires of Jesus.
As Jesus makes his journey through the desert, he fasts from bread and water for 40 days and nights. It is in this encounter with the devil that Jesus rejects the allurements presented to him by the devil to turn stones into loaves of bread. Jesus is aware of what the devil is trying to do and of his motives. Although the Lord could use physical nourishment, he will not receive it from the hands of the devil. Our Lord is rather nourished by the word of God, which he tells the devil will give him strength and sustenance.
We see the devil tempting our Lord by promising him great power if he were to worship him. Jesus recognizes the test that the devil is putting before him. The question that the Lord wants us, as his disciples, to ask is, how is the devil testing and tempting us? Just as he was able to seek out the Lord, the devil attempts to seek us out. He does so in many different ways. We must always put on the armor of Christ, who protects us from Satan and all his works and his empty promises.
As we begin this season of Lent, we acknowledge the reality that we are all poor sinners, trying our best to be good, holy, and faithful disciples. When we fall into feelings of loneliness, fear, and frustration, we must not allow Satan to make his way in. We know that through the transgression of Adam and Eve, sin and death entered the world, but through the great gift of Jesus Christ, grace and life are granted to us all.
We are called to use these weeks of Lent as an opportunity to renew, restore, and rejuvenate our relationship with the Lord Jesus. God’s merciful and compassionate love encourages us to keep our eyes fixated on his only begotten son. Lent invites us into the tremendous joy of our guilt being washed away.
As we begin these weeks of prayer and penitence, let us continue to be mindful of our sinfulness and ask forgiveness of the one who defeats the power of Satan and offers us life eternal.
Father Alonzo Cox is pastor of St. Martin de Porres Parish, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and coordinator for the Vicariate of Black Catholic Concerns for the Diocese of Brooklyn.